My name is Earl, and I have a Stainless Steel bolt fetish =)

[Earl]

I got a little done yesterday. The carbon was CAKED on. I had to let the alcohol soak in multiple times. I ran out of scotch brite pads so I will be finishing up Saturday.

Before:

After an Hour:

I'm trying to think of an easy way how to get the rest of the carbon out of the reliefs.

Here is how I had to leave off yesterday:

It was way too cold and rainy to try and paint anything on my rear subframe too=/

In excellent news, the wheels got their first coat of powder yesterday. They would be done, but Shaun ran out of clear. Not a problem. They should be all done next week.

[Brian.]

what are you using to get the carbon build up off? I.e. using a scotch pad to get it off the face of the cylinders, use a screwdriver/plastic puddy knife as an edge to get it down in the reliefs.

[Earl]

All I've used so far is red scotch brite and alcohol.

[Brian.]

use a plastic putty knife to get in the reliefs, put the scotch pad down, then use the edge of the putty knife to get the pad in the relief and scrub like a mofo. I'm sure using just the putty knife would work too

[Earl]

Thank you. Kyle will be out Saturday to check my head and my cylinder bores.

[Jeff]

use some carb cleaner or what i used to clean all my engine parts was diesel. it works just like the chemical used in a parts washer. like brian said use a plastic putty knife of a screwdriver just don't dig really hard and gouge the piston.

[Jeff]

^ well that was a little late

[Earl]

I got some backed scotchbrite pads from work just now. I shiuld be able to get the remainder off well with them.

[KaiserRolls]

dang, those before and after pictures are something!

How long did it take you to get all that carbon off?

[Earl]

Just getting the one almost done, the other half way, and the head surface took about an hour. lol

[KaiserRolls]

dang. iron elbow award.

[Earl]

I had to keep switching hands. lol

[Jeff]

use diesel or carb cleaner it will come right off. an hour of scrubbing. that made my arms start hurting

[Earl]

I was just looking through old pictures yesterday and found a few that I don't think I ever posted. I cannot wait for the car to have a fresh coat of black=) I should have also cut my bumpstops way back when. It definitely sat too high. Definitely needed spacers too. Oh well=)

[StewCrew]

It's crazy how different the car is going to be once this is all done. And I thought it was cool in the pictures you just posted 0.o

[Jeff]

She looks beautiful.

[Earl]

I miss driving it=P

[StewCrew]

Earl said:

I miss driving it=P

Dat feel.......    I know it

[Earl]

StewCrew said:

Dat feel.......    I know it

You get to daily the e46 though. I have to drive the mk3..........

[johnprusinski]

Earl said:

You get to daily the e46 though. I have to drive the mk3..........

you mean the green gem? that thing is a piece of gold my friend. hahaha